Power should lead to purification and elevation.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् |वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ||१०-२३||
rudrāṇāṃ śaṅkaraścāsmi vitteśo yakṣarakṣasām . vasūnāṃ pāvakaścāsmi meruḥ śikhariṇāmaham ||10-23||
Use this verse for ethical power reflection.
Meaning
Among Rudras I am Shankara; among Yakshas and Rakshasas I am Kubera; among Vasus I am Fire; among mountains I am Meru.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Krishna’s glory appears as power, wealth, fire, and height.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
The verse teaches that great strength and resources should be viewed as divine trusts, not ego possessions. Fire purifies, and the mountain symbolizes stability and elevation.
Read the traditional commentary
The litany of glories continues across the spheres of demigods and nature. Among the eleven Rudras, Krishna is Shankara (Shiva); among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, Kubera, lord of wealth; among the Vasus, He is Agni, fire; and among the great mountains, Meru, the cosmic axis.
Notice the breadth: the auspicious and the fierce, the elemental and the monumental, all alike reveal His presence. By naming Shiva, fire, and the world-mountain, Krishna shows that no domain of reality stands outside the Divine. The contemplative invitation remains constant: in the most commanding presence within any group of beings, recognize a face of the one Lord.
The whole universe becomes a gallery of His glories, each pre-eminent thing a window onto the same boundless light.
In daily life
Use wealth, strength, and position responsibly.
A business leader can treat capital as stewardship, not personal arrogance.
Try this today
Dedicate one resource to a higher purpose.
My power is a trust from Krishna.Reflect
What power or resource must I use responsibly?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘यक्षरक्षसाम्’ mean in this verse?
Krishna on excellence, in other chapters
- Verse 3.7The highest path is to master your mind first, then act wholeheartedly in the world without clinging to the outcome.
- Verse 11.6Every power we revere in the universe is itself held within the one boundless Reality.
- Verse 2.28Expand your vision to include the unmanifest dimension of existence, and attachment to temporary forms will naturally loosen.
- Verse 5.14Action springs from nature's flow, not from the pure Self — release the burden of believing your ego authors it all.
Swipe left for 10.24 · Wisdom, courage, and depth are divine qualities.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 10.23
Who says Bhagavad Gita 10.23, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 10.23, in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga (Vibhuti Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.23 mean?
Among Rudras I am Shankara; among Yakshas and Rakshasas I am Kubera; among Vasus I am Fire; among mountains I am Meru. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 10.23 for daily life?
Use wealth, strength, and position responsibly. A business leader can treat capital as stewardship, not personal arrogance.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 10.23 mean?
रुद्राणाम् — among the Rudras; शङ्करः च अस्मि — I am Shankara (Shiva); वित्तेशः — the Lord of wealth (Kubera); यक्षरक्षसाम् — among the Yakshas and Rakshasas; वसूनाम् — among the Vasus.
Where does verse 10.23 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 23 of 42 in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga. The next verse is 10.24.